Managing urban growth and protecting the environment in Gasabo District, Rwanda

Abstract

Sustainable urban development is vital for environmental protection, particularly in rapidly urbanising areas. Gasabo District, which covers 58.8% of Kigali City’s area and houses over half of its population, reflects the environmental pressures affecting the entire city. Rapid urbanisation and population growth have increased strain on land, water, and infrastructure, highlighting the urgent need for proper urban planning. To address these issues, this paper aims to examine the key challenges that exacerbate environmental degradation and explore the potential for managing urban growth in a way that does not compromise ecological integrity. Seventy-two PRISMA-screened records were analysed to identify both challenges and opportunities for urban environmental development in Gasabo, drawing insights from global best practices. ArcGIS Pro was used to analyze spatial layers of population density and map environmental hotspot areas to support this study. Google Earth Engine was used to generate the Urban Heat Island Map from Landsat 8 Surface Reflectance Tier 1 data for the year 2024. Findings indicate that 79.6% of households in the district rely on biomass for energy, which contributes to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. Other critical issues include land degradation, waste mismanagement, pollution, water scarcity, climate change, and the urban heat island effect. The study proposes strategies to address these challenges, drawing inspiration from successful examples such as Singapore, which is considered a model for Rwanda, to propose context-adapted solutions, including mixed-use zoning, urban densification, and blue-green infrastructure. Additional recommendations include rainwater harvesting, permeable pavements, vertical farming, and clean cooking technologies to enhance resilience and sustainability within the district and the whole city.